Batting practice and training device



Jan. 19, 1965 E. E- TUMELSON BATTING PRACTICE AND TRAINING DEVICE Filed May 51, 1962 l NVENTOR United States Patent lice BATTING PRACTICE AND TRAINING DEVICE Eugene E. Tumelson, 1367 Lamboll St., Jacksonville, Fla.; Evelyn Turnelson, administratrix of said Eugene E. Tumelson, deceased Filed May 31, 1962, Ser. No. 198,967 4 Claims. (Cl. 273-26) This invention is conceived to permit individuals of all ages to practice and learn the art of hitting a moving ball correctly and accurately. This invention is related to all sports where a bat, racket or related instruments are used to propel a ball along a trajectory path. It may used indoors or outdoors requiring an area of approximately -feet square for safe operation. It is a teaching device as concentration, coordination, and timing are required or a miss will take place. It is a teaching device as it may be operated by one person plus an instructor. It is a practice device as it may be operated by one or two individuals without moving from the 10-feet square area. It is a practice and teaching device as in the sport of baseball, a curve, drop, fast ball, slow ball, inside or outside pitch may be simulated. This device may be portable, wall mounted, or permanently mounted. This device is light in weight and operating parts may be viewed at all times for inspection against wear thus insuring safety. This device affords amusement, as well as light physical exercise. As the ball may be raised or lowered to any height it may be hit by any size or age persons of both sexes.

The object of this invention is to make practice fun and to improve ones batting skill through timing, coordination and concentration.

The object of this invention also is to be able to hit a ball, determine its trajectory and not have to retrieve said ball.

The object of this invention also is to be able to practice indoors when weather conditions do not permit outdoor practice.

Other objects and improvedadvantages of the inven- 3,166,317 PatentedJan. 19, 1965 the-rear and released on any desired arch. When ball 7 tion will be apparent to those Whose skills are related in the batting art with the review 'of the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein is shown a perspective view showing all related parts and appurtenances of this batting practice and training device embodying my invention, the device being shown in a position for use.

Referring to the drawings in which the numerals refer to the various parts needed in constructing this invention:

Base or stand 1 is of such weight, size, design and material as will furnish a substantial support during the use of this device. Rigidly mounted on such base is vertical post 2 to which curved top post section 3 is attached so that no twisting action will take place. On the bottom side of curved top post section 3 steel eyes 4 and 5 are attached. Eyes 4 and 5 may be of any mate rial other than steel as long as they are of sufficient strength to perform the function for which they were intended. Through eyes 4 and 5 a flexible cord or cable 6 is threaded. Cord or cable 6 may be of any material as long as it has sufficient strength to perform the function as intended. On one end of cord 6 a ball 7 is securely attached. Ball 7 shall be standard weight and size depending upon which sport is being practiced or taught.

At the end of cord 6 opposite of ball 7 rubber slip bushing 8 is threaded onto cord 6 followed by a light-duty compression spring 9. Compression spring 9 shall be of sufficient size to perform the function for which it was intended. After compression spring 9 rubber ball 10 is securely fastened to the end of cord 6 thus holding slip bushing 8 and compression spring 9 on cord 6 thus completing the assembly.

reaches its apex it returns toward the batter. The batter must then concentrate and coordinate his swing to strike ball 7 sending it on its trajectory path. After ball 7 has been struck with sufficient force and sent on its trajectory path causing cord 6 to be pulled through eyes 4 and 5, ball 7 and cord 6 continue on the trajectory path until rubber slip bushing 8 comes in contact with eye 4 which causes compression spring 9 to compress thus taking the whiplash out of cord 6 causing ball 7 to stop its trajectory and fall harmlessly to the ground. The batter then reaches up taking hold of rubber ball 10 and pulls down to reset the device for another hit.

What I claim is:

1. A ball game training device supported on the ground comprising a base, an elongated post having one of its ends connected to said base and extending generally vertically. therefrom, an elongated arm having one of. its ends connected to the other post end, the other arm end being spaced horizontally outwardly from said post, a first eye attached adjacent to said other arm end, a second eye attached to said arm spacedly between said armends, an elongated cord threaded through said eyes and having end portions wherein one end portion is adjacent said post and the other end portion is remote therefrom, said second eye being spaced outwardly from said post sufficiently to prevent entanglement of said one cord end portion around said post during movement of said cord, a ball securely attached to said other cord end portion, cushioning means attached to said one cord end portion for stopping said cord, said ball being suspended by said cord from said first eye, said ball being adapted and arranged for swinging on saidother cord end portion and for striking by player whereby said ball moves in a free trajectory path, said cord moving through said eyes during the movement of said ball in its trajectory path, said cord'being limited in its movement by said cushioning means engaging said second eye thereby stopping said ball in its trajectory path, said cord extending outwardly from said one eye sufficiently for said ball to engage the ground after said cushioning means stops said ball in its trajectory path.

2. A ball game training device supported on the ground comprising a base, an elongated post having one of its ends connected to said base and extending generally vertically therefrom, an elongated curved arm having one of its ends connected to the other post end, the other arm end being spaced horizontally outwardly from said post, a first eye attached adjacent said other arm end, a second eye attached to said arm on the curved section thereof spacedly between said arm ends, an elongated cord threaded through said eyes and having end portions extending downwardly to positions substantially adjacently above the ground, one cord end portion being adjacent said post and the other cord end portion being remote from said. post, a ball securely attached to said other cord end portion, cushioning means on said one cord end portion, said cushioning means including a stop member attached to said one cord end portion, a compression spring disposed on said cord between said stop member and said second eye, said second eye being spaced outwardly from said post for suspending said one cord end portion and its attached said cushioning means spacedly away from said post thereby preventing entanglement of said one cord end portion around said post during movement of said cord, said ball being suspended by said cord from said first eye, said ball being adapted and t V I 3 arranged for striking by a player whereby said ball moves in a free trajectory path, said cord moving freely through said eyes during movement of said ball in its trajectory path whereby said compression spring moves upwardly toward said second eye, said compression spring being forcibly compressed between said second eye and said stop member whereby said cord is stopped and the trajectory path of said ball is altered, said stop member being engageable for moving said one cord end'portion downwardly to reset said ball in its suspended position adjaoently above the ground.

3. A ball game training device supported on the ground comprising a base, an elongated post having one of its,

ends connected to said base and extending; generally vertically therefrom, an elongated arm having one of its ends connected to the other post end, the other arm end being spaced horizontally outwardly from said post, a first eye attached adjacent said other arm end, a second eye attached to said arm spacedly between said arm ends, an

elongated cord threaded through said eyes and having end portions, one cord end portion being adjacent said post and the other cord end portion being remote from said post, a ball securely attached to said other cord end portion, cushioning means on said one cord end portion, said cushioning means including a counterbalance stop member attached to said one cord end portion, a compression spring disposed on said cord between said stop member and said second eye, a rubber slip bushing surrounding said cord and disposed between said compression spring and said second eye, said second eye being spaced outwardly from said post for suspending said one cord end portion and its attached said cushioning means spacedly away from said post thereby preventing entanglement of said one cord end portion around said post during movement of said cord, said ball being suspended by said cord from said first eye, said ball being 7 adapted and arranged for swinging and for striking by path of said ball is altered. r

4. A ball game training device supported on the ground comprising abase, an elongated post having one of its ends connected to said base and extending generally vertically therefrom, 'an elongated curved arm having one of its ends connected to the other post end, the other arm end being spaced horizontally outwardly from said post, a first eye attachedtadjacent said other arm end, a second eye connected to the curved section of said arm between its said ends, an elongated cord threaded through said eyes and having end portions, one cord end portion being adjacent said post and the other cord end portion being remote from said post, -a' ball securely attached to said other cord end portion, cushioning means on said one cord-end-portion, said cushioning means including a counterbalance stop member attached to said one cord end portion, a compressible member disposed on said cord between said stop member and said'second eye, said second eye being spaced outwardly from said post for suspending said one cord end portion and its attached said cushioning means spacedly away from said' post thereby preventing entanglement of said one cord end portion around said post during the vertical movement of said one cord end portion, said cord being adjusted through said eyes to suspend said ball from said first eye above the ground a predetermined distance, said ball being swingable on said other cord end portion, said ball being adapted and arranged for striking by a player during the swinging motion of said ball, said ball when struck moving in a free trajectory path determined by the striking force of the player, said cord moving freely,

through said eyes during movement of said ball in its trajectory path, said compressible member being compressed between said stop member and said second eye to .stop said cord thereby altering the trajectory path of said ball, said cord extending outwardly from said first eye sufficiently for said ball to engage the ground after said cord is stopped by said compressible member and stop member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Denegre July 3, 1962 

1. A BALL GAME TRAINING DEVICE SUPPORTED ON THE GROUND COMPRISING A BASE, AN ELONGATED POST HAVING ONE OF ITS ENDS CONNECTED TO SAID BASE AND EXTENDING GENERALLY VERTICALLY THEREFROM, AN ELONGATED ARM HAVING ONE OF ITS ENDS CONNECTED TO THE OTHER POST END, THE OTHER ARM END BEING SPACED HORIZONTALLY OUTWARDLY FORM SAID POST, A FIRST EYE ATTACHED ADJACENT TO SAID OTHER ARM END, A SECOND EYE ATTACHED TO SAID ARM SPACEDLY BETWEEN SAID ARM ENDS, AN ELONGATED CORD THREADED THROUGH SAID EYES AND HAVING END PORTIONS WHEREIN ONE END PORTION IS ADJACENT SAID POST AND THE OTHER END PORTION IS REMOTE THEREFROM, SAID SECOND EYE BEING SPACED OUTWARDLY FROM SAID POST SUFFICIENTLY TO PREVENT ENTANGLEMENT OF SAID ONE CORD END PORTION AROUND SAID POST DURING MOVEMENT OF SAID CORD, A BALL SECURELY ATTACHED TO SAID OTHER CORD 